Associate Professor Mehran Tehrani's team has been honored with the 2023 Journal of Manufacturing Processes Best Paper Award, distinguishing their work among approximately 900 published papers. Their groundbreaking study, titled "Eliminating voids and reducing mechanical anisotropy in fused filament fabrication parts by adjusting the filament extrusion rate", challenges the widely held belief that mechanical anisotropy—direction-dependent strength—is inherent to filament-based additively manufactured parts. This research suggests broader applications for this technology, allowing it to compete more effectively with other additive manufacturing processes.
The team focused on Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), a prevalent method in 3D printing known for issues with anisotropic properties, pores, and voids that degrade mechanical properties. They presented a straightforward yet effective solution: adjusting the filament extrusion rate to eliminate these undesired voids and improve mechanical properties while maintaining printability. Utilizing experimental techniques and numerical simulations, they demonstrated the solution's effectiveness and explored the underlying mechanisms affecting the mechanical behavior of the manufactured parts. This work significantly expands the understanding and potential of FFF in 3D printing, paving the way for its use in more demanding applications.